The UAF Community and Technical College (CTC) law enforcement academy is a rigorous 13-week training program that provides basic police training for Interior and rural municipalities in preparation for the Alaska Police Standards Certification. The successful graduate will receive an occupational endorsement and eligible graduates will receive an Alaska Police Standards Certificate of completion as well as 16 university credits. Additionally students who successfully complete the program will be eligible for employment with any of the approximately 21 state enforcement agencies or 43 municipal police departments within the State of Alaska. In addition to these agencies, many private security companies give special consideration to hiring candidates who possess the training certificate.

Program Overview

The academy includes instruction in crime scene investigation, emergency vehicle operation, building searches, defensive tactics, handgun and shotgun training, traffic stops, shooting decisions, first aid training, interview and interrogation techniques, accident investigation, traffic control, physical arrest, and handcuffing. Students take part in rigorous physical fitness training throughout the duration of the academy.
Classes are held 6 days a week (Monday - Saturday) 8:30 - 5:30. Physical training is Monday - Friday 6:00am - 7:00am. There are some Sundays included as well as some late nights. The Fall academy begins in mid-August and the Spring academy begins mid-February. Students are expected to attend every class, and be timely in arriving for class and in the submission of assignments. Students are required to maintain a 2.0 GPA in order to be awarded an Alaska Police Standards acceptable certificate. Students will be expected to maintain a sufficient degree of physical conditioning in order to participate successfully in classes that cover topics such as physical arrest, weapons retention, and handcuffing. In addition, most police departments in the state require applicants to pass a basic physical proficiency test prior to being hired.

Application Information

Students who wish to attend the Law Enfrcement Academy must submit fingerprints for clearance prior to the application process. If you are planning on attending the Fall session (August-November) the prints must be submitted no later than May 1. If you are planning on attending the Spring session (February-May) the prints must be submitted no later than November 1. For more information contact the Academy director Dusty Johnson at dpjohnson@alaska.edu or at 455-2811. Applicants must have a high school diploma or possess a GED certificate. Students will have to fill out an application for the law enforcement academy, receive approval from the Program Coordinator, and agree to comply with the rules and regulations established by UAF/CTC and the academy.
Additionally, all applicants must comply with the Alaska Police Standards Qualifications:

Must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien demonstrating intent to become a citizen.

Must be 21 years of age to be employed as a Police Officer, however, students who are at least 18 years old may be admitted to the training program.

Must possess a valid Alaska Driver's License.

Must be free of physical defects that would interfere with the performance of the normal duties of a police officer (including certain vision, hearing, and/or emotional disorders).

Alaska law enforcement agencies are prohibited, by law, from hiring or employing any person who has:

Been convicted of a felony.

Been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of dishonesty, moral turpitude, or other crime resulting in serious physical injury to another within the preceding 10 years.

Been convicted of two or more DWI offenses.

Been denied police certification, or had police certification revoked by the Alaska Police Standards Council.

Illegally transported, manufactured or sold a controlled substance within the 10 years prior to application or who has used marijuana within the last year prior to application.

Falsely applied for certification, lied, or omitted information from the APSC application.

NOTE: Entry into law enforcement tactics training may be denied to any person who, because of past criminal or social behavior, might represent a risk of harm to other students or to the general public.

Career Opportunities

The CTC law enforcement academy has strong relationships with both state agencies and private security companies to help with the successful placement of graduates. Graduates of the program have gone to work as pipeline security personnel; police officers; sergeants; lieutenants; chiefs of police; K-9 handlers; undercover officers; tactical police team members (SWAT); and detectives. Others have become adult and juvenile probation officers, corrections officers, park rangers, and dispatchers.

Don P. “Dusty” Johnson is a graduate of Municipal Police Academy in Sitka, Alaska and began his career in law enforcement in Fairbanks in 1978. Dusty has worked in patrol, Metro, detectives and spent more than 20 years on the Tactical Police Team. In 2007, Dusty retired from the Fairbanks Police Department after 29 years of service. Dusty has been an instructor with the CTC law enforcement academy since it was established.

UAF is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and an educational institution. Page Last modified: June 08 2015.
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